Chapter 7: For Those We've Lost

"Great job! What did I tell you!? Good!" Patrick's voice was filled with excitement and pride. Through the call, his elation was palpable, as if he were right there, slapping Lester on the back in celebration.

"It's all thanks to you!" Lester replied, unable to suppress the wide grin that stretched across his face. His cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much, but he didn't care. The rush of finally achieving what he had thought was impossible filled him with a buoyant sense of triumph.

But then Patrick's tone changed, becoming more serious, almost somber. "Lester," he said, grabbing his friend’s full attention.

"We need to become stronger. For all of our friends we have lost, we need to become stronger for them!" Patrick’s voice resonated through Lester's ears, a firm reminder of their past.

Lester nodded slowly, his smile fading into a more contemplative expression. What Patrick said was true. Once upon a time, their group of friends had dreamed of becoming cultivators together, of making their mark on the world and writing their own legends. They were driven by a shared sense of wonder and purpose, bound together by their love for the unknown. But as one friend after another disappeared—some due to failed cultivation attempts, others to beast attacks or worse—their motivation began to wither. The group chat that was once filled with lively discussions and wild theories became silent. Yet here they were, Lester and Patrick, standing on the precipice of their shared dream, not just for themselves but for all those they had lost.

"You're right," Lester finally said, a steely resolve settling into his voice. "We can still make that dream come true."

Patrick had been training hard to support this dream. Without a cultivation technique to guide him, he had taken to learning martial arts to gain an edge in combat. "If a cultivator is at the same level as you," he had often said, "it's your techniques and fighting skills that make the difference." It was a practical approach, and Patrick was always a practical guy.

As Lester had been immersed in creating his core for nearly two months, Patrick had used that time to learn the basics of mixed martial arts. He wasn’t a natural prodigy; learning the basics had been a struggle, and he was still far from mastery. Martial arts wasn't something you could simply pick up overnight—it took time, practice, and discipline. But Patrick was committed, and Lester respected him for that.

"So, now that we're both cultivators," Lester said, his pride evident in his voice, "what's the news in the cultivation world?" For the first time, he could ask that question and feel like he was truly a part of it.

Patrick paused for a moment, considering. "I haven’t been keeping up as much because of my martial arts training," he admitted. "But the biggest news lately has been about the Water Prince. That guy killed a panda-like beast that was tearing up villages in China. It had already killed thirteen Foundation Cultivators and a few weaker Beginning Stage Cultivators. The Water Prince took it down with just one move."

"Wow! He's on a whole different level, isn't he?" Lester's eyes widened in awe. He had heard stories of the Water Prince’s strength, but each new tale seemed to elevate the man to a mythical status.

"Yeah, the guy really deserves the title of the strongest on Earth," Patrick agreed. "I'll send you the video of the battle. It’s a sight to behold."

"Thanks, man!" Lester replied with genuine gratitude.

Patrick was more than a friend to Lester; he was like a brother. Having grown up moving from place to place, Lester had never been able to form deep, lasting friendships. The internet and the small group of friends he found there had been his only constant companions. And now, Patrick was the only one left. Patrick had not only guided him through his first steps into cultivation but had also been there for him when he felt lost and alone. For that, Lester was grateful beyond words.

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Patrick's tone shifted again, becoming a bit more thoughtful. "Oh, and Lester, remember when I said I’d share my next steps in cultivation? Well, learning martial arts wasn’t the only interesting thing that happened to me lately."

"Oh?" Lester asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yeah," Patrick continued. "The American Cultivation Association, or ACA, came to my home and tried to recruit me. They said that if I joined them, I’d receive one of the three cultivation books they’ve created."

Lester's eyes widened in surprise. "Already? How did they find out so quickly that you created a core?" he asked. It was clear that countries were doing everything they could to strengthen their ranks in this new era of cultivation. He knew about the ACA and its recruitment tactics but was still taken aback by their swift response.

"Yeah, they're fast," Patrick agreed. "They want strength, and they want it now."

Lester nodded, understanding. The three cultivation books offered by the ACA were well-known around the world. Referred to as The Three Godbeast Arts, these techniques were the [Blue Swordfish Art], the [World Breaking Bison Art], and the [Four Winged Eagle Art].

These cultivation books were famous not only because they were complete, but because they were human creations. Unlike the alien manuals that had washed ashore from the crashed cargo ship, the Americans had created these books themselves—a fact that intrigued and impressed many around the globe.

The creation of these books was a story steeped in tragedy and determination. After the alien ship crash, America was left with far fewer cultivation resources compared to China. Determined not to be left behind, they launched an ambitious project to reverse-engineer the alien cultivation techniques.

They gathered the brightest minds from across the country and set them to work analyzing the fragments they had, developing over a thousand prototype cultivation books. In a risky gamble, over a thousand volunteers were recruited to test them. The results were devastating—most of the volunteers died or were crippled. But three of the books worked, and thus, the Three Godbeast Arts were born. This day was forever remembered as Calamity Day in America.

Despite their success, the American cultivation books weren't perfect. They lacked the profound insights into the alien techniques and World Qi manipulations, something that required centuries to build.

Officially, the government stated that these arts could, at best, guide someone to the level of a Middle-Level Cultivator. However, Lester was skeptical; he suspected there were hidden depths to these techniques that the government wasn’t revealing. Even though these books didn’t have the same enlightenment as the alien ones, they were still potent tools in the race for power, and the ACA used them to draw in new cultivators. Most of these new recruits were Americans or from nearby North American countries, where national pride played a big role in their choices.

The ACA, like China's Cultivation Squad, was a powerful organization. Those who swore loyalty to it were bound by strict confidentiality, forbidden to share any information about their techniques or the ACA’s operations. This secrecy made the ACA one of the most mysterious cultivation organizations in the world.

"Did you consider joining them?" Lester asked, curiosity tinged with concern.

"For a moment," Patrick admitted. "But the price is too high. You know that the three people who cultivated these techniques are in the top twenty strongest cultivators in the world, right? But they don’t really have freedom. They’re tightly controlled by the government. I don’t want that to be me."

Lester nodded. "Yeah, I heard about that. Still, it’s tempting, right? A complete cultivation book is hard to come by."

Patrick sighed. "Yeah, but I'd rather take my chances on my own. I don’t want to trade my freedom for power. Besides, with what I’ve learned so far and your help, we can make it on our own."

Lester glanced over at the small cabinet against the wall, not too far from where he sat. A thought crossed his mind, and a mischievous smile spread across his face. "Don’t worry, Patrick," he said, still staring at the cabinet. "I have a little surprise for you!"

There was a pause on the other end of the call. Patrick sounded a bit uneasy but also intrigued. "A surprise, huh? Hehe, it better be good!"

Lester’s grin widened as he continued, his gaze still locked on the cabinet. "Oh, it is. Trust me."

What lay inside that cabinet had the potential to change everything for both of them.